Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies is set to move in to the Anglican Church's neo-Gothic mansion in Darling Point after the historic property failed to sell.

The landmark 6216-square-metre property called Bishopscourt was listed last September with hopes of $25 million, after more than a century as the church's official Sydney residence.

The church made the historic decision to sell the property at the 2012 Synod, with 452 votes out of 579 in favour, and it was vacated last July when Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen retired.

The Anglican Church's neo-Gothic mansion in Darling Point called Bishopscourt. Photo: Tim Mooney

"Synod authorised a five-year window for the sale because we always knew this might be a lengthy process," said chairman of the Anglican Property Trust Dr Robert Tong.

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Archbishop Glenn Davies did not move into the property when he was appointed last August because of the sale and the need for minor renovations.

Those renovations are set to take place in August and September, and the Archbishop is expected to move in before the end of the year.

The property was listed last September with hopes of $25 million.

Craig Pontey, of Ray White Double Bay, was unavailable for comment, but it was passed in at its March auction when interest stalled below the $20 million level. Negotiations with local buyers have been continuing in recent months.

The sale window is currently authorised by the Diocesan Synod to last until October 2017, but could be extended, according to a statement issued by the church on Tuesday.

Sydney's trophy residences are renowned for their long sales campaigns. The Point Piper mansion Altona was on the market for six years before it sold for $52 million in March last year.

Archbishop Glenn Davies is expected to move in before the end of the year.

Recruitment queen Julia Ross has had her Point Piper mansion Villa del Mare on the market for $40 million since 2011.

Bishopscourt was never going to be an easy sell, according to buyer's agent Stu Jones, of Rose and Jones, who inspected the property on behalf of clients.

Dr Glenn Davies. Photo: Edwina Pickles

"It's a very special buyer who wants a neo-Gothic mansion with specific heritage requirements and with the sort of money to meet the church's $20 million expectations," Mr Jones said.

Built in 1841, Bishopscourt was bought in 1846 for 2500 pounds by businessman and co-founder of the AMP Society Thomas Sutcliffe Mort. It was then transformed by architect J. F. Hilly and named Greenoaks.

Additions were made in 1859 by architect Edmund Blacket and again in 1935 by Professor Leslie Wilkinson.

Mr Mort sold it to grazier Michael Campbell Langtree in 1892, and the Anglican Church has owned it since 1910. The surrounding gardens were originally designed by landscape designer Michael Guilfoyle, with a Norfolk Pine and some of the Morton Bay figs still standing.